Tashard Choice Fantasy News

Ronnie Wingo will back up C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. The move is somewhat surprising, though Choice hasn't exactly lit it up when given the chance to carry the ball (3.6 YPC on the season).

Friday, October 25, 2013, 7:59pm

Bills RB C.J. Spiller (ankle, doubtful) missed practice all week and is doubtful for Week 8. Fred Jackson (knee, probable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 8. With Spiller all but ruled out, Fred Jackson is a low-end RB1 option against a Saints defense that has historically struggled against the run. Tashard Choice enters the conversation as a potential desperation flex play.

Thursday, October 24, 2013, 6:31pm

Bills RB Fred Jackson (knee) returned to limited practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday practice. C.J. Spiller (ankle) missed practice again Thursday. For his part, Spiller says his ankle feels better than last week, though a source told WGR 550 in Buffalo that the chances are "extremely slim" that Spiller plays. As for Jackson, he says he'll be "ready to go Sunday" and would be a top 12 play, especially if Spiller is limited or out. Tashard Choice is shaping up as a Sneaky Start as well.

Bills RB C.J. Spiller has been playing hurt for the past three games now with his ankle injury suffered against Baltimore.

Outside observers wonder if it’s better to just let Spiller’s ankle completely heal and sit him for a week. Head coach Doug Marrone admitted that playing on it slows the healing process, and indicated that Spiller’s progress will be carefully monitored.

“It’s been up and down,” said Marrone. ”We just monitor him during the week and see where he’s at and if it continues to get better then we go out there and play. There’s going to be a setback when you play the game. He’s not going to come out of there 110 percent. It’s a situation where we keep monitoring it and then if there’s a point where during the week it doesn’t feel as good as it should then we have to look and see what we want to do."

Fantasy Impact:

It does make you wonder what the Bills are thinking as they keep putting Spiller out there at clearly less than 100-percent. Unfortunately, that makes him a risky fantasy play right now. Fred Jackson and Tashard Choice combined for 17 carries last week in a tough matchup. Spiller had just six carries for 11 yards. Right now, Jackson looks like a much safer play even if Spiller continues to be active.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 7:25pm

Bills RB Fred Jackson (knee, probable) took limited practice reps Wednesday and is listed as probable. It looks like Jackson is more likely to play than C.J. Spiller. If Spiller is out, Jackson will be a fringe RB1 against the Browns. Tashard Choice would back him up in that scenario. Jackson should even be productive if Spiller plays, as he's been the better player thus far in 2013.

Bill head coach Doug Marrone implying RB Fred Jackson will be ready for the game saying he feels "very comfortable with Fred" in terms of Thursday's status.

Fantasy Impact:

C.J. Spiller did not practice today, despite earlier reports saying he did. Tashard Choice could get an increased workload especially if one of Spiller or Jackson don't play. It's still a pretty murky situation against a pretty decent Browns defense and a lot needs to be figured out.

Bill running back Fred Jackson said he sprained his MCL in Sunday's win but expects to play Thursday night.

"It's not as significant [as last season]. It's something that we can manage, and I expect to play," Jackson said.

Jackson, who rushed for 87 yards on 16 carries Sunday, left late in the third quarter, jogging to the locker room. He returned early in the fourth quarter, rushing five times for 19 more yards.

Fantasy Impact:

Spiller's (ankle) status is in doubt with a short week but reports say he's going to play. But, Jackson would likely cut into the workload in what's a pretty tough matchup against the Browns Thursday night. Tashard Choice is expected to get an increased workload as well causing what looks to be a murky situation right now. Jackson will likely wear a brace, according to Tuesday reports.

Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's win over the Baltimore Ravens and is uncertain of his status for next Thursday night's game against the Cleveland Browns.

Spiller left in the third quarter Sunday after rushing 21 times for 65 yards. He returned to the game, rushing twice more for 12 yards, but was limping in the locker room following the game.

"I'm going to do as much treatment as I can to get ready for Thursday, but it's a short week, so it's going to be tough," Spiller said. "If I can go out there at least 85 or 90 percent, I'm going to play."

Fantasy Impact:

It's been a slow start for Spiller and owners who spent a mid-first rounder on him are likely suffering, too. To make matters worse, if you handcuffed Spiller with Fred Jackson, he was also banged up (MCL sprain). Tashard Choice could be next up to play on what is a short week for the Bills - they play Thursday night in a tough matchup at Cleveland. Spiller said if he can get his ankle to 85-percent, he would play Thursday night.

"We're actually still trying to find that role," HC Doug Marrone said. "I don't think that role's been defined for us yet. We're going to take a real good look at it."

Fantasy Impact:

Keep in mind it's early, and keep in mind we had a news story not all that long where Marrone said he'd use Spiller in every situation. But in this drill, Tashard Choice was getting goal line work. Marrone told the author he would use a specialty back for goal line carries if he feels his main back "doesn't have maybe the girth to go over the top" and that he likes to use a fresh back in goal line situations. The story added the Bills had only five rushing TDs under 10 yards last year. Spiller did have one of them; Jackson had two. No reason to give up on Spiller because of this, but something to keep in mind.

Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey announced Monday that running back Fred Jackson is done for the season and has been placed on IR.

Jackson suffered a Grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee Sunday. Gailey noted that the recovery timetable for Jackson's injury is likely closer to 4-5 weeks, longer than the time left in the regular season.

This is the same knee he injured in Week 1 when he sustained an LCL sprain and missed two weeks. This is also the same leg in which Jackson suffered a fractured fibula which prematurely ended his 2011 campaign.

Fantasy Impact:

It will be the C.J. Spiller show for the rest of the season. Head coach Chan Gailey admitted backup Tashard Choice won't be stealing the same amount of work from Spiller as Jackson did.

Bills RB Fred Jackson on his knee injury: "They told me it's a grade II sprain of my MCL. I mean technically it's a tear off the bone, because you tear the ligament away from the bone. So that's why some people say it's a tear, but the ligament itself is intact. It's just pulled away from the bone a little bit."

Fantasy Impact:

It's good news for C.J. Spiller owners as Spiller should get a bump in touches. Jackson is likely done for the season with just three weeks left to go, and he said he very well could get placed on IR. Tashard Choice will backup Spiller.

Bills RB C.J. Spiller did have 22 carries for 91 yards and three catches for another 39 yards, but there were still times when coach Chan Gailey's use of his star running back could easily be questioned.

In 11 plays run in the red zone (not counting Rian Lindell field goals), for example, Spiller touched the ball just once. Backup Tashard Choice got two red-zone touches.

"I think I said it earlier in the week that Choice would play because [Spiller] gets winded, and then when we're trying to throw the football sometimes we'd rather have Choice in there to protect when we know we're going to throw it," Gailey said in explaining why Spiller was on the sidelines for an extended stretch near the end of the first half, a sequence that ended in a 19-yard field goal by the Bills.

"So we'll stick Choice in there some plays. It just happened that it worked that way. It wasn't an injury."

Bills RB Fred Jackson, who left Sunday’s game with a head injury, does have a concussion and will miss Thursday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, head coach Chan Gailey announced Monday.

Jackson went to the ground late in the fourth quarter after he took a blow to the head while being tackled. He was able to leave the field under his own power after remaining on the ground for a few minutes. He finished the game 135 all-purpose yards, including 80 yards and a pair of TDs on the ground.

Fantasy Impact:

Gailey said earlier that Jackson had not felt well on the team’s flight back to Buffalo following the game. With Jackson out, C.J. Spiller and Tashard Choice figure to see an increased workload, but Spiller is the guy to play and could very well be an RB1 option when our rankings are released Wednesday.

Bills running back Fred Jackson said he will definitely play against the New England Patriots this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. He made that comment Monday night to co-host Bob Koshinski live on WBBZ-TV's "The Fred Jackson Show" at the Eastern Hills Mall studio.

The Bills team captain said he will wear a brace, something he's not real happy about, but he will be on the field in the biggest home game of the young season.

Jackson's guest was running mate C.J. Spiller. The rising star said the shoulder injury he sustained in the first quarter of the Cleveland Browns game will not keep him out long, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could suit up Sunday.

"It is all a matter of how much pain I may be able to take," Spiller said.

Fantasy Impact:

If Jackson is somehow on the waiver wire, pick him up. Spiller should be considered doubtful for Week 4. Tashard Choice

The Bills are not expected to have C.J. Spiller this Sunday, but Fred Jackson has recovered quickly from his knee injury to the point that he’ll practice at some point this week.

That according to head coach Chan Gailey in his weekly appearance on WGR Sportsradio 550.

“Fred will practice this week,” said Gailey. “I don’t know if it’ll be Wednesday or Thursday, but he should practice some time this week. His recovery has been amazing.”

Gailey wouldn’t get ahead of himself and discuss the likelihood of Jackson playing Sunday, but he did add that he’s fine going against New England with the guy that rushed for 91 yards in relief of Spiller.

“Tashard Choice is a pretty good back,” said Gailey. “I have no qualms about running with him”

Fantasy Impact:

In the event Spiller or Jackson can't go, Tashard Choice will see the bulk of the workload. Choice ran 20 times for 90 yards in relief of Spiller last week.